Students are not ‘distracted’ by selection tests

Students are not ‘distracted’ by selection tests

21 December 2016

NEWCASTLE’S Shimna Integrated College remains committed to academic excellence for every one of its students, its principal told parents at last week’s annual prize night.

Mr Kevin Lambe said in a world “distracted and misled by unofficial selection tests,” Shimna remains committed to students’ academic excellence, with those who were presented with GCSE and A level certificates the embodiment of that commitment.

Addressing students, parents and invited guests, the school principal said the previous 12 months had been a year of “tremendous opportunity” for students at the Newcastle school.

Mr Lambe said the presentation evening is not just a celebration of students’ achievements, but also for their parents and guardians. He said it is the firm partnership between parents/guardians, teaching staff and support staff who provide the back to students’ success, with the principal hoping what he described as this “working partnership” continues.

Mr Lambe said the school’s new sports hall has now been painted inside, with changing room and toilet facilities completely refurbished. He said work is about to begin on a new classroom block, with plans in place for a complete refurbishment of our entire building.

“This will be music to the ears of current and future students, but also to those founding parents who worked so hard to put up this essentially temporary building which we have looked after and developed since 1994,” he continued.

Going into more detail about the past year being one of “tremendous opportunity,” Mr Lambe said perhaps the greatest opportunity was Shimna’s Habitat for Humanity trip to Ethiopia, a project that began with a major fundraising drive to raise money to build houses and sanitation projects in Addis Ababa.

The principal said the student Habitat group worked hard all year and was absolutely delighted with the support they received from the whole Shimna community. He said a range of events took place to raise money, describing the Ethiopian trip as “life changing” for students and staff alike. 

He continued: “Our students also had opportunities in the past year to take part in the Mock Bar Trial competition, a most demanding and challenging enterprise and also great fun. Preparation involved a 15-strong team in after-school and Saturday sessions over a whole term and a fascinating day taking part in three trials in front of a real judge in the High Court in Belfast. 

“Three further students have won places this year on the Attorney General’s Living Law Programme; ten students have taken part in the British Medical Association outreach programme and other students have attended university summer schools at Cambridge, Queen’s and in Liverpool. Our students were again at the Mock Council of the European Union with the fascinating challenge of representing new EU member, Romania.”

“Our new GCSE course — Understanding Business Enterprise with Tourism and Languages — allows students to gain insight into setting up a business enterprise and to develop the skills for one of Northern Ireland’s fastest growing employment sectors. Our first students in the software systems development A-level will complete this year.”

Mr Lambe said opportunities are essential in every area of school life, with Shimna particularly pleased with its sporting success this year, highlighting success in kayaking, karate, fencing, football, track and field and international show jumping. He said Shimna teams also tasted success in netball, cross country and Gaelic and were beaten finalists in a hockey final, with rugby squads playing successfully in leagues and tournaments.